Miniature-type jumping stand



Oct. 15, 1963 L. M. JENKINS 3,107,091

MINIATURE-TYPE JUMPING STAND Filed Aug. 2, 1961 28 E is 2 Lois M Jen/fins 1N VEN TOR.

BY Mia way 3m United States Patent M 3,107,091 MINIATURE-TYPE JUMPING STAND Lois M. Jenkins, Bemidji, Minn. (1152 N. D St., Fremont, Nebr.) Filed Aug. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 128,820 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-59) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a special purpose jumping stand and perltains, more particularly stated, to a so-called primary or miniature-type adaptation which is unique in that it is suitably and expressly designed and constructed for safe use by children of kindergarten, first, second and third grade age.

The instant concept has to do with a pressing desire to stimulate interest and participation of small children in exercising games in a school gymnasium or on the outdoor playground. With a view toward encouraging youngsters to learn by doing, a teacher or gym instructor has to take into account a most important factor and responsibility, safeguarding little children. To this end experimentation would show that, while jumping stands are in and of themselves old, none of these prior types are suitably adaptable for use in the particular field of endeavor herein under advisement. So, and with this challenge in mind it is a clear objective here to promote the adoption and use of a safe and sane jumping stand which is such that its use may be justly endorsed by :all concerned and especially parents, children and teachers. Experimental usage of the stand herein disclosed has shown that it soon teaches the little ones how to do forward ro1ls, backward rolls, cartwheels, jumping, stimulates creative movements and the performance of many stunts often quite skillfully, but with prerequisite safety.

It has been ascertained that a properly made and proportioned jumping stand lends itself admirably well in.

achieving the results which are being accomplished. It is usable indoors in the gymnasium with appropriate tumbling mats and outdoors on the play area without, of course, a menacing landing pit. In the gymnasium these stands are aptly used in conjunction with a suitable controlled approach and two floor mats for the followthrough landing and tumbling activities. In fact it is within the purview of the invention to support a suitably designed supportable hoop by way of which youngsters perform limited activities.

As will be hereinafter evident, the suitably based selfstanding uprights or standards are limited to a height of two-feet six inches (26) and of special stepped construction with keeper seats at six-inch (6") levels or stages for a displaceable horizontal crossbar. It has been discovered that with these prescribed dimensions, a landing pit is not at all required. Then, too, this novel jumping stand lends itself to practical and safe use as :a hurdle, several being then brought out into use.

llt should be noted that the jumping stand is portable, that it may be readily dismantled and compactly and conveniently bundled, as it were, and that it may be reliably stored in a classroom closet where available space may be at a premium. To this end plastic components have been found to be ideal. By using uprights which ar detachable from the base blocks, and a sectional crossbar a package some 2'6" in size is had and a storage problem is thus overcome.

The invention also features a horizontal crossbar made up of hollow or tubular rounds or dowels each 2'6" with a jointing bead or head on an end of one section, whereby the two sections may be separably joined much in the manner of pop-it-beads.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details 3,107 ,09 l Patented Oct. 15, 1963 of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which;

(FIGURE 1 is a view in respective showing the improved jumping stand and how it is constructed and set up for use and illustrating a user diving over the horizontal bar onto the landing and tumbling mat;

FIGURE 2 is an exaggerated sectional view taken on the vertical line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective showing how the six component parts are intended to be grouped together for compactness and convenience of storage in a classroom closet or elsewhere;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation showing the quick separable connection between the sections or rounds of the sectional crossbar; and I FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of a modified onepiece wooden unit.

Briefly summarized the overall stand is characterized by a pair 'of independent companion uprights each pro vided at a lower end thereof With a self-standing base permitting the uprights to assume a vertical usable position, and a readily applicable and removable horizontal crossbar adapted to span an existing space between the uprights, said uprights having vertically spaced, selectively usable seats for reception and removable retention of the end portions of said crossbar, whereby to permit the crossbar to be raised, lowered and supported relative to the uprights and the foundation supporting said uprights.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawing and especially to FIGURES l to 4, inclusive, it will be noted (FIG. 1) that the two principal units or individual stands are denoted at A and B, respectively, and that the applicable and removable horizontal bar or horizontal crossbar is designated at C. In this embodiment of the invention the component parts are all made of suitable moldable plastic material. Inasmuch as each unit or stand A or B is the same in construction, a description of one will suffice for both. With this in mind the numeral 8 designates an upright or standard which may be (FIG. 2) hollow in construction. It may be either circular or non-circular in cross-section, either conical (not shown) or rectangular in shape. \It is of lightweight, durable construction and suitably colorful in appearance. The overall length or vertical height is 2 feet 6 inches. The vertical approach side which may be called the rearward edge is linearly straight as at 10 also to distinguish it from the forward stepped side. The last-named side embodies individual risers or steps 12, 13, 14 and 15'. Thus the upright may be described as decreasing gradually in width from the lower widest end 16 to the upper restricted end '17. Each step is provided with a curvate notch which may be described as an arcuate keeper seat and these keeper seats are at intervals or levels of 6 inches apart, the lowermost one being designated conveniently at 18 and the intermediate ones 19 and the uppermost or top one at 20. In this form or embodiment of the invention the lower end portion of the upright is detachably mounted on a block-like plastic member which is solid and denoted at 22, the same being approximately 8 inches in length and having a flat bottom side 24 (FIG. 2) and a flat top side 26. The median portion of the flat top side is provided with bendable or flexibly resilient spaced parallel upstanding flanges 28 which provide a retainer between themselves. The portion 16 of the upright is removably fitted and clamped between the flanges and seated firmly on the surface 26.

The crossbar is approximately 5 feet in length and is made up of two similar or substantially duplicate halfsections the one .to the left being denoted at 30 and the one to the right at 32. These sections are preferably tubular and may be described as rounds or dowels or perhaps just as half-sections. In any event the inner br righthand end portion of the section 32 in FIGURE 4 provides a socket to accommodate the head and neck portions '34 and 36 of the coupling member in the manner illustrated. .Thetwo sections are connectible together like so-called pop-it-heads.

Whereas the form of the invention thus far described is preferably that which is constructed from a suitable grade of commercial plastics it is within the purview of the invention to provide a one-piece wooden stand or unit of the type designated at 38 in FIGURE 5. Here the lower end portion of the, upright 40, that is, the portion 42 is securely fastened to the centralized area of the fiat top of the wooden block .or base 44. Here again the approach edge 46 is straight and the forward or opposite vertical edge is provided with steps 48 having arcuate keeper seats or notches 56.

'The expression primary when used refers to children of kindergarten, first, second and third grade age. It is to be emphasized that the jumping stand herein under advisement being only 2 feet 6 inches in height would not, of course appeal to larger boys and girls. Nor is to be understood that the stand is used just for jumping inasmuch as it serves for creative activities, for diving and other activities described and, in addition, some children like to go under the displaceable crossbar. This is very often the case when the stands are used in a series, As is evident from FIGURE 1 the child is supposedly doing a cartwheel or going over with a dive in preparation for a shoulder role on the suitably positioned mat. It is reiterated that the apparatus or stand has to do with one which is limited for size and that each level or position of the crossbar is 6 inches above the one below. Most mats which are used for purposes of carrying out the invention are about 4 feet by 6 feet. Keeping in mind, therefore, that the invention is directed to use for small children only it will be evident that the features emphasized are suitable and adaptable in achieving the fun-provoking, exercising and creative activities desired.

As before suggested the uprights or standards are not necessarily rectangular. In practice they may be conical and capable of telescoping, one into the other (not shown), when not in use.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the description in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the construction, features and advantages and mode of use of the invention. Therefore a more lengthy description is believed to be unnecessary. V

The foregoing is considered as illustrative ,only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shownand described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A miniaturized knockdown portable jumping stand for indoor and outdoor jumping and diversified gymnastic activities comprising a pair of independent companion uprights, each upright separably connected at a lower end thereof with a self-supporting fiat-bottomed base, said upright decreasing in cross-sectional dimension from the lower toward the upper end and having a straight vertical edge at its rear side and a stepped vertical edge at its forward side, each step comprising a horizontal keeper seat, the upper end likewise having a corresponding keeper seat, and a horizontal bar adapted to span a given space between the uprights when set up for use, said horizontal bar having end portions proportional with the seats, the horizontal bar comprising two similar half-sections each of a length corresponding to the height (or length) of each upright, the inner adjacent ends of said half-sections being separably jointed together.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said base includes a fiat top and a pair of spaced parallel flexibly-resilient flanges secured to and extending vertically from the flat top, the lower end of said upright being separably fittedbetween and frictionally engaged by the flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,328 Chamberlin Mar. 19, 1878 932,142 Kimmel Aug. 24, 1909 1,388,821 Pulliam Aug. 23, [1921 2,777,692 Marzucco Jan. 15, 1957 2,972,833 Grutta Feb. 28, 1961 

1. A MINIATURIZED KNOCKDOWN PORTABLE JUMPING STAND FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR JUMPING AND DIVERSIFIED GYMNASTIC ACTIVITIES COMPRISING A PAIR OF INDEPENDENT COMPANION UPRIGHTS, EACH UPRIGHT SEPARABLY CONNECTED AT A LOWER END THEREOF WITH A SELF-SUPPORTING FLAT-BOTTOMED BASE, SAID UPRIGHT DECREASING IN CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION FROM THE LOWER TOWARD THE UPPER END AND HAVING A STRAIGHT VERTICAL EDGE AT ITS REAR SIDE AND A STEPPED VERTICAL EDGE AT ITS FORWARD SIDE, EACH STEP COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL KEEPER SEAT, THE UPPER END LIKEWISE HAVING A CORRESPONDING KEEPER SEAT, AND A HORIZONTAL BAR ADAPTED TO SPAN A GIVEN SPACE BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS WHEN SET UP FOR USE, SAID HORIZONTAL BAR HAVING END PORTIONS PROPORTIONAL WITH THE SEATS, THE HORIZONTAL BAR COMPRISING TWO SIMILAR HALF-SECTIONS EACH OF A LENGTH CORRECPONDING TO THE HEIGHT (OR LENGTH) OF EACH UPRIGHT, THE INNER ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID HALF-SECTIONS BEING SEPARABLY JOINTED TOGETHER. 